Already as a boy, I felt a certain sensitivity towards God and the Church, probably fueled by some pilgrimages to Medjugorje or as a result of the sacraments and prayer. However, I am amazed at how the “religious education” I received as a child in the family and parish context was then continued over the years without the family’s push but instead as a personal choice. In fact, despite having attended the typical environments of a “carefree” youth, I felt good with God, I did not miss Sunday Mass and monthly confession, and above all, it seemed to me that God answered my prayers. However, when it came to making important choices, such as going on a pilgrimage where I would understand new things about myself, and when I heard talk of vocation, I often became defensive, until during university I decided to face that unrest by opening myself to God’s will for my future. I felt, in fact, that God would call me to something, perhaps to become a priest, and I wanted to understand it, without hurry.

Then I embarked on a path of accompaniment and vocational discernment with some diocesan priests for about a year, but the true driving force behind everything was the silent and passionate encounter with Jesus Eucharist that gave me the courage to move forward. In this journey guided by Providence and not without uncertainties, I saw various doors close and others open: a job I was doing with dedication no longer yielded results, the vocational group I was attending had to be left for study reasons, and small other discouraging signs then gave way to a providentially arriving invitation.

I accidentally came across the vocations website of the Legionaries of Christ, and a few days later, a relative wanted to introduce me to them… Was it a “God-incidence”?

Thus, the meetings and experiences with the Legionaries opened up a world that I felt would fulfill what I was seeking. I was happy from the very beginning, so much so that I easily overcame the difficulties of leaving things behind and starting a new life.

I could compare my years of formation and consecration to God to the stages of a spousal relationship. My initial infatuation, sincere and a bit blind, was then tested with periods of dryness, misunderstandings, and internal struggles. This long spiritual engagement served to lay the foundations for the relationship I live today. I owe it mainly to the Lord, who is the primary protagonist of this story, and to the presence of many people I met along the way who, by “chance” or intentionally, for better or worse, were a sign of His presence and a call to conversion.

I also thank Mary, who in many moments, just with a glance, makes me feel loved, and to Her I want to entrust this priesthood so that it may bring many of Her children to the Father.